Rail fastening



W m Q N\ INVENTORS W/LL/AM H CH/DESTEE Jhcos Pz/JH 5/vY0/5E 45/14,

July 13,1943 w. H. CHIDESTER ETAL.

RAIL FASTENING Filed Sept. 6, 1941 Patented July 13, 1943 UNITE RAIL FASTENING william ll. ()hidester, Lakewood, and Jacob Rush Snyder, Cleveland, @hio Application September 6, 1941, Serial No. 409,858

'(tll. 238-349) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to fastenings for railway rails, and more particularly, to improved rail fastenings of the type embodying a resilient clamp.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved rail clamp of the resilient type which can be economically manufactured and readily applied to railway rails, and which embodies novel means for preventing the clamp from pressing laterally against the fastening spike and for preventing the clamp from turning about the spike.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved rail fastening of the character mentioned in which the degree of pressure applied to the clamp by the fastening member can be controlled or determined such'that the danger of flexing the clamp beyond its elastic limit during assembly will be avoided and yet the clamp will exert sufiicient pressure on the rail to hold the rail against creeping and will accomplish this without preventing a desired wave motion of the rail as trains pass thereover.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved rail fastening embodying a resilient clamp of the character mentioned and in which a stop is employed for limiting-the amount of bending of the clamp when the fastening spike is being initially'driven.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view showing one form of rail fastening embodyingour invention;

line 22 of fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3'of Fig. 1:

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view showing another rail fastening embodying our invention;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken therethrough, as indicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partial plan view showing still another rail fastening of our invention; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken therethrougll on line 7'l of Fig. 6.

We will now proceed to describe our improved rail fastenings in greater detail and in so doing, further reference will be made to the drawing, but it should be understood that the invention is not to be regarded as limited to th particular forms of clamp and rail fastenings shown in the drawing, but may be embodied in various other similar clamps and fastenings coming within the. scope of the appended claims.

In. the form of our rail fastening illustrated in.

Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, a conventional railway rail having a base flange l0 rests on a tie plate H, and the rail and tie plate are yieldingly held or clamped against a wood tie l2 by means of the resilient clamp I 3 and a fastening spike 14 extending through an opening 13a of the clamp and an opening I la of the tie plate.

The tie plate It may be a generally flat plate having an upstanding transverse rib on its upper surface providing an abutment face or shoulder I541 against which a longitudinal edge of the base flange E0 of the rail bears. The tie plate may have one or more round openings [6 therethrough which are located outwardly of the rib l5 and one of which openings accommodates the fastening member or spike It. The tie plate may also have one or more substantially square openings l! therethrough with which a holding means may cooperate for preventing turning or lateral shifting of the clamp relative to the spike l4, as W111 be further explained hereinafter. The square holes I i are preferably formed in the tie plate so as to extend through the upstanding transverse rib I5 with the-inner edge of each opening lying just inwardly of the upright plane contam ing the abutment face or shoulder I511. The holes It as thus formed and located will accommodate the usual cut railway spike if it should be found desirable to use a spike of this form in place of or in addition to our resilient clamp and screw spike.

The clamp l3 comprises a resilient plate member of a single thickness or ply which may be Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on stamped or otherwise formed from sheet metal or plate stock and has bearing portions l8 and I9 adlacent its outer and inner edges which bear respectively against'the tie plate It and the sloping face of the rail flange Hi. The clamp l3 may be generally flat, as compared with rail clamps of the type having a reversely bent or angularly extending portion, but is preferably of a wavy or corrugated shape, as shown in th drawing. One of the corrugations of the clamp forms an up wardly bowed section |3b which overlies the rib I5 of the tie plate, and another corrugation forms an upwardly bowed section I 3c which contains the opening l3a for the spike Hi. The clamp should have the necessary thickness and may be hardened or otherwise treated so that it will have the desired resilient or springy character for yieldingly clamping the rail and tie plate against the tie, it when pressure is applied to the intermediate section I30 by the fastening member or spike l4.

The fastening member M for connecting the clamp and tie plate with the tie may be a spike as above referred to, and in this instance is shown as being a screw spike having a threaded portion Ila and a head 20. The upper portion 20a of the head of the spike may be of square or other polygonal shape to facilitate turning of the spike, and the lower portion of the head may be in the form of an annular collar, the under face of which bears against the corrugated section I30 of the clamp.

When the spike I4 is screwed or driven into the tie II, it may be located so that it is engaged by one edge of the opening I la of the tie plate I I. In this relative location the spike will prevent lateral shifting of the tie plate and a resulting spreading of the rails, particularly in curves and at switches. The Opening l3a of the clamp is substantially aligned with or overlies the opening Ila of the tie plate, but, as shown in Fig. l, the opening l3a is somewhat larger than the diameter of the spike, and may be laterally elon gated so that clearance will be provided between :the spike and the edge of this opening for reasons to be presently explained.

It is desirable to prevent the clamp from turning about the spike l4 so as to maintain the bearing portion IS in engagement with the rail flange, and it is also desirable to hold the clamp from lateral shifting which would cause the edge of the opening I3a to press against the spike ll. If the clamp were permitted to press against the spike, the repeated flexing of the clamp, due to cars or locomotives passing over the rail, might cause loosening of the spike. To prevent such turning or lateral shifting of the clamp we provide holding means, one form of which may coinprise a downwardly deflected integral lug 2| debeing subjected pending from the clamp l3 and engaging in one of the square openings ll of the tie plate. As shown in the drawing, the lug 2| may be formed by partially shearing a corresponding section of metal from the clamp and pressing such partially sheared section downwardly a. sufllcient distance to extend into the opening ll when the clamp is in assembled position. The lug 2| thus formed is of a width such that it, will enter the opening I! but will have a snug fit therein and will hold the clamp against turning about the axis of the spike II. The engagement of the end of the lug against the face or wall l'la of the opening I! holds the clamp in a position with its openin I311 overlying the opening Ila of the tie plate and prevents the above-mentioned lateral shifting of the clamp into engagement with the spike ll. The clearance provided between the spike and the edge of the relatively larger opening its 0! the clamp takes care of variations which may occur in the clamp or spike, or in the formation or location of the lug 2|, and permits the parts to be assembled in the relation shown in the drawing without having the edge of the clamp opening press against the spike.

To avoid unduly decreasing the amount of metal remaining between the opening l3a and the opening from which the lug 2| is sheared, we may form the lug II with an angular or beveled side 2 In on the portion thereot which lies nearest the opening I30. Likewise, we may maintain a desired balance between the areas of the plate sections on opposite sides of the opening I34 so that the flexing of the clamp will be more or less uniformly distributed. This may be accomplished by shearing or otherwise removing a corner portion of the clamp 80 that line distance from the edge of the opening Ila to the inclined line 22 will be substantially the same as the straight-line distance from the edge of the opening l3a to the side edge 23.

From Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, and the foregoing detailed description, it will be seen that when the spike I4 is driven into the tie [2 the clamp will be drawn down to its full-line position and will yieldingly hold the rail and tie plate against the tie. The dotted-line position shown in Fig. 2 illustrates the shape of the clamp in its released condition. I f it should be desirable to remove the rail for replacement by a new one, it is only necessary to unscrew the spike l4 sufficiently to permit the lug 2| to be lifted out of the opening l'l, whereupon the clamp l3 can be rotated sumciently, such as through 180, to disengage the clamp from the rail flange and permit the old rail to be removed and the new rail to be moved into position.

It may be desirable to prevent the clamp from to flexing or bending in excess of its elastic limit when the spike I4 is being initially driven into the tie. For this purpose we provide a stop which will serve to limit downward movement of the arched intermediate portion I30 of the clamp when the spike It has been driven into the tie the proper distance. One form of this stop may comprise an enlargement or sleeve 24 on the spike adjacent the under side of the collar 20b and which provides a relatively narrow shoulder 240 at a point below the lower surface of the clamp and which will engage the tie plate II when the spike has been driven into the tie the proper distance. The enlargement 24 is of a diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of the opening l6 and is of a length in relation to the resiliency of the clamp such that inward movement of the spike will be positively stopped when the clamp has been given an initial bending or flexing corresponding with an applied pressure on the rail sufficient to hold the rail wavy or corrugated form having an upwardly bowed portion 21 overlying the no a of the he the menplate 29 and another corrugation forming an upwardly bowed intermediate section 33 having an opening "a through which the fastening memher or spike 3| extends. The clamp ii is so formed that the bowed intermediate portion 30 thereof is of maximum thickness and is substantially rigid in character, hile the oppodtely extending leg portions 32 and 33 which bear respectively against the rail flange 3 and the tie plate 29 are of tapering thickness and are resillient or flexible so that yielding clamp l PIG- sure will be applied to the rail and tie plate when the clamp is drawn down from its released dotted-line position to its full-line position by the spike 3 l.

The clamp 23 may also be provided with a depending integral lug 33 similar to the lug 2| above described, and which also engages in a square opening 33 of the tie plate and servu to prevent turning of the clamp about the spike. The engagement of the and of the lug 33 with a wall of the opening It prevents the clamp from shifting laterally and pres g against the spikethat shown in F183. 1 to 3, in-

For limiting the extent of bending of the clamp, particularly when the spike 3| is initially driven into the tie 31, we provide stop means such as that above referred to in connection. with the clamp l3, but which in this instance is carried by the clamp instead of the spike. In this case, the stop means may comprise a depending relatively pointed integral rib or lug 38 formed on the under side of the rigid, upwardly bowed intermediate section 30 and the top of which rib or lug provides a relatively narrow shoulder for engagement with the tie plate and which narrow shoulder is located at a point below the lower surface of the clamp. The lug or rib 38 is of a depth in relation to the resiliency oi the clamp such that when the spike 3| has been driven into the tie a sufficient distance to bend or flex the clamp an amount which will cause it to grip the rail firmly enough to hold the rail against creeping, the lug or rib will engage the tie plate and prevent the spike from being driven further into the tie. When the spike is initially driven into the tie for the full distance permitted by the stop lug or rib 38, the tie plate and clamp will be more or less rigidly clamped to the tie, but as soon as trains or locomotives have passed over the rail, the tie plate will be partially depressed into the wood tie and a small clearance will then exist between the stop 38 and the tie plate suiflcient to thereafter permit the desired flexing of the clamp.

In Figs. 6 and '7 we show a rail fastening which is also generally similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, but in which the holding means for preventing turning of' the clamp 39 about the spike 40 may consist of a cut spike 4| driven into the tie 42 through one of the square openings 43 of the tie plate 44 and through a substantially aligned corresponding square opening 45 of the clamp. The spike 4| may be an ordinary or conventional cut railway spike or may be a headless spike, as shown in this instance. The spike 4| not only holds the clamp against turning about the spike 40, but also holds the clamp from pressing laterally against the spike.

Stop means may also be provided in this form of our rail fastening for limiting the initial bending of the clamp and the distance to which the spike can be initially driven into the tie, as explained above, to thereby control the pressure exerted by the clamp to the amount necessary for holding the rail against creeping. This stop means may be similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and may comprise an enlargement 46 on the spike adjacent the head which provides a relatively narrow shoulder 46a at a point below the lower surface of the clamp and adapted to engage the tie plate when the spike has been driven the desired distance into the tie 42. Although we have illustrated and described stop means in connection with each of the rail fastenings disclosed for limiting the initial bending of the clamp and the distance to which the spike is to be driven into the tie, it should be understood, however, that such stop means can be omitted from one or all of these rail fastenings.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing, it will now be readily understood that we have provided improved rail fastenings of the type embodying a resilient clamp and it will also be readily seen that the clamp can be economically manufactured and readily applied to the rails. It will likewise be understood that we have provided novel means I for preventing the clamp from turning about the spike and. for preventing the clamp from pressing laterally against the spike. Furthermore, it will be seen that our improved rail fastenings also embody stop means for limiting the extent of bending of the clamp and the distance to which the spike can be initially driven into the tie.

While we have illustrated and described our improved rail fastenings in a more or less detailed manner, it will be understood, of course, that we do not wish to be limited to the particular details and arrangements herein disclosed, but regard our invention as including such changes and modifications as do not constitute a departure from the spirit of the invention and the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a rail fastening the combination of a tie plate adaptedto receive a rail thereon, an opening in said tie plate, a resilient metal clamping member having end portions adapted to bear respectively on the rail flange and on the tie plate and also having an upwardly bowed intermediate portion provided with an opening located to overlie the opening of the tie plate, a headed fastening member extending through said openings and adapted to bear against said bowed portion for holding the clamping member in flexed condition for clamping the rail to said tie plate, and depending relatively pointed transverse integral rib means formed on said clamping member and providing relatively narrow stop means at a point below the lower surface of the clamping member, said stop means being located to lie beneath the head of said fastening member and being engageable with the tie plate for limiting the flexing of said clamping member by said fastening member.

'2. In a'rail fastening the combination of a tie plate adapted to receive a rail thereon, an opening in said tie plate, a single-thickness resilient metal clamping member having end portions adapted to bear respectively on the rail flange and on the tie plate and also having an upwardly bowed intermediate portion provided with an opening located to overlie the opening of the tie plate, and a fastening member extending through said openings and adapted to hold the clamping member in flexed condition for clamping the rail to said plate, said clamping member having depending integral transverse rib mean on the underside of said bowed intermediate portion in substantial alignment with the axis of said fastening member and providing relatively narrow stop means at a point below the lower surface of the clamping member and engageable with the tie plate for limiting the flexing of the clamping member by said fastening member.

3. In a rail fastening, a tie plate having a flanged rail thereon and having an upstanding rail-positioning rib extending transversely thereof and adapted to be engaged by the flange of the rail, an opening in the tie plate, a clamp comprising a single-thickness resilient metal plate having bearing portions at its ends engageable respectively with the rail and said tie plate and having an upwardly bowed intermediate portion, said bowed portion having an opening therein above the opening of the tie plate, a fastening member extending through said openings and bearing on said bowed portion for holding the clamp in a flexed condition for yieldingly clamping the rail against the tie plate, the opening of the clamp -being of a size to provide clearance for said fastening member, a second opening in said tie plate, and an integral lug depending from said clamp on the rail side of the opening thereof and extending into said second opening for holding the clamp against turning and lateral shifting relative to the fastening member, said lug extending toward the opening of said bowed portion and having a portion engageable with the wall of said second opening for preventing the edge of the clamp opening from pressing against the fastening member.

4. In a rail fastening, the combination of a tie plate adapted to receive a rail thereon, an opening in said tie plate, a resilient metal clamping member having end portions adapted to bear respectively on the rail flange and on the tie plate and also having an upwardly bowed intermediate portion provided with an opening located to overlie the opening of the tie plate, a headed fastening member extending through said openings and adapted to bear against said bowed portion for holding the clamping member in flexed condition for clamping the rail against said tie plate, a d p nding relatively pointed transverse integral rib means on the underside of said clamping member and providing a relatively narrow stop which is located to lie beneath the head of ed to bear against said bowed portion for holding the clamping member in flexed condition. for clamping the rail to said plate, said opening of the clamping member being of a size to provide 1 clearance for said fastening member, depending said fastening member and extends below the lower surface of the clamping member for engagement with said tie plate for limiting the flexing of said clamping member by said fastening member, said stop being of a height in relation to the resiliency of the clamping member such that when the stop is engaged against the tie plate the distortion of the clamping member will cause an applied pressure on the rail sumcient to hold the rail against creeping.

5. In a rail fastening the combination of a tie, a ti plate adapted to receive a flanged rail thereon and having an upstanding rail-positioning rib extending transversely thereof and adapted to be engaged by the flange of the rail, said tie plate having a pair of spaced openings therein, a single-thickness corrugated resilient metal clamping member having end portions adapted to bear respectively on the rail flange and tie plate and also through one stop means integrally formed on the underside of the bowed portion of said clamping member so as to lie beneath the head of said fastening member and providing a relatively narrow shoulder at a point below the lower surface of the clamping member which isengageable with the tie plate for limiting the flexing of said clamping member by said fastening member, and an integral deflected lug on said clamping member extending into the other opening of the tie plate and acting to hold the clamping member against turning and lateral shifting relative to the fas- I tening member.

6. A clamp for use with a fastening spike and a tie plate having an upstandin transverse rib adapted to be engaged by a rail flange and spaced openin s one of which is adapted to receive said spike, comprising a single-thickness corrugated resilient metal plate having bearing portions adjacent its ends and also having an opening of its upwardly bowed corrugations, the last mentioned opening being of a size to receive said spike with clearance therebetween, said clamp also having a downwardly sloping integral lug on the rail side of the clamp opening and extending toward said last mentioned openmg, said lug being adapted to extend into a second one of the openings of th tie plate for holding the clamp against turning about the spike and having an end face engageable with a side wall of such second opening for preventing the edge of the clamp from scraping on the spike.

WILLIAM H. CHIDESTER. JACOB RUSH SNYDER. 

